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Lost in a garden of Clouds Pt 3
Recording Now…

Discography

So who is Alpha?

Alpha started in 1995 in Bristol and in 1997 signed to Massive Attack label though they remain fairly unknown despite the fact that they have been tagged as one of the most important bands in resent times. They have changed the lives of thousands of their listeners including many pop idols. Madonna worked with them, Prince put them at the top of his playlist, but they remain A Secret…

… Alpha was formed in 1995 by two Bristol based producers and songwriters, Corin Dingley and Andy Jenks. Both were releasing records with other bands (The Experimental Pop Band and Statik Sound System) and released their debut single that year. It caught the attention of Massive Attack who signed them to their Virgin imprint Melankolic.

With the help of three sensational singers; Martin Barnard, Wendy Stubbs and Helen White, Alpha released two critically acclaimed albums and a remix mini-lp, selling 150,000 copies, gaining a credible list of admirers including David Bowie, Radiohead, Pulp, Tim Simenon and Madonna (Madonna voted their lp ‘Pepper’ album of the year in Rolling Stone magazine and asked Alpha to pitch some songs for her forthcoming lp ‘Music’). They toured extensively, both supporting Massive Attack in the UK and Europe, as well as their own sell-out shows in France, gaining a considerable fan-base there.

In 2001, Jarvis Cocker provided vocals for their cover of the Jimmy Webb song ‘This is where I came in’, and they toured Europe again, this time as a fully live 7-piece band. Alpha are also respected remixers, having mixed Robert Plant, Coldplay, Lambchop, Massive Attack, Brendan Benson, and Madredeus, among others.

Second instrumental album. Insipired from resent cinema soundtrack performances. A continues mix of old and new instrumental work from Alpha, it’s an endless journey from reality, pure art-house, a mix of song, spoken word and recurring themes.

1. Sleep dust
2. Once Round Town
3. The Things You Might
4. Lipstick From The Asylum
5. Elvis
6. As Far As You Can
7. Horseshit
8. Saturn in Rain
9. Sliver Light
10. Roy
11. I Just Wanna Make You
12. Blue Autumn
13. Vers Toi
14. Portable Living Room
15. A Perfect End

The special edition, which was released in America only, added three tracks (Horseshit, The Things You Might & Roy) but removed two others (Double View & Waiting).

Slim contains a sample from ‘Summertime’ as performed by Memphis Sli, and from ‘Plus FortQueNous’ as performed by Francis Lai. Lewis Parker raps on the Underdog Remix which also contains a sample of ‘Down By Law’ from the ‘Wild Style’ soundtrack.

7″ Vinyl Single released by Swarf Finger Records on June 1995(SF004)a. Back
b1. Horseshit
b2. PepperThis was Alpha’s first release – they were previously called Ariel. It was a limited edition of 500 copies. The lyrics on ‘Back’ where written and sung by Martin Barnard (who was in a band called Moorhaven at the time) and Helen White sang backing vocals.